MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota today announced that Fernando Ferrer is his appointment to the Metropolitan Transportation Sustainability Advisory Workgroup. The workgroup was created by the New York State Legislature in April to make recommendations on transportation within the MTA’s service region.

 

Mr. Ferrer has served as Vice Chairman of the MTA Board since 2011, and has also served as Acting Chairman of the Board twice – the first time from January to June 2013 and most recently from February to June 2017.

 

In 2016, Mr. Ferrer was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Board of Trustees of City University of New York for a term ending in 2023. In addition, he is co-chairman at Mercury, a public strategy firm. He also serves as a director of Sterling Bancorp and Sterling National Bank.

 

Mr. Ferrer served in the New York City Council from 1982 to 1987 and was Bronx Borough President from 1987 through 2001. During his 14-year tenure he created housing for about 66,000 families. The borough saw a significant drop in crime, particularly in the South Bronx, and a steady rise in business and real estate investment.

 

In 2005, Mr. Ferrer became the first Latino to win the Democratic Party nomination for New York City Mayor. He has also served as president of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit, progressive think tank dedicated to economic and social justice; as a member of the board of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity; and as chair of the board of the Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association.

 

Mr. Ferrer earned his BA degree from the University Heights College of Arts and Sciences of New York University, and his MPA degree from Baruch College of the City University of New York. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Manhattan, Mercy, Herbert H. Lehman, and Metropolitan colleges, and the Eugene J. Keogh Public Service Award from the Alumni Association of New York University, as well as hundreds of awards from schools, community groups, institutions, and faith communities.